Life Summary
Kang Jeong-seok is chairman of Dong-A Socio Holdings. He serves as chair of the Sustainability Committee and CSO.

He was born on October 30, 1964, as the grandson of the late Kang Jung-hee, founder of Dong-A Pharmaceutical, and the fourth son among four sons and four daughters of Kang Shin-ho, honorary chairman of Dong-A Pharmaceutical.

He graduated from Chung-Ang University’s Department of Philosophy and the University of Massachusetts in the United States with a degree in business administration, and received a master’s degree in pharmacy from Sungkyunkwan University’s graduate school.

In 1989, he joined Dong-A Pharmaceutical and worked as executive director of the medical device business division, head of the medical business division as managing director, and head of the sales division as executive director.

In 2006, he was appointed CEO and president of Dong-A Otsuka and concurrently served as CEO and vice president of Dong-A Pharmaceutical. He has served as CEO of Dong-A Socio Holdings since 2013. He became vice chairman in 2015 and chairman in 2017.

He was recognized for his management abilities after successfully completing the company’s transition to a holding company structure. He is credited with building expertise and efficiency at each business company and laying the foundation for growth into a global pharmaceutical company.

In August 2017, seven months after becoming chairman, he was arrested and jailed on charges of embezzling company funds and providing rebates.

After being released from prison, he could not return to management because of employment restrictions, but his rights were restored through a special Liberation Day pardon in 2023.

He returned to the company as chair of the Sustainability Committee and CSO.

He is participating in management as an unregistered executive, leading to criticism that responsible management is insufficient.

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